2018 November

Can I Clean My Windows With A Steamer?

November 26, 2018

Yes! At BCS, we love using steam to clean all kinds of surfaces. Steam cleaning is one of the quickest and easiest ways to clean windows without harsh or irritating chemicals. It’s safe for children, pets and allergic-adults, and the steam vapor easily removes winter buildup, grease, oil and fingerprints from dirty windows. Because steam cleaning doesn’t need detergents, chemicals or fancypants window-cleaning products, there’s no chance of having to wrestle with a window streaked with cleaning agents. Steam cleaning also sanitizes and kills most household germs. Bonus!

Park City, Heber and the Salt Lake City Valley get more than their fair share of gunk buildup on windows over the winter. Here’s our suggestion for steam-cleaning your own windows. If the whole process gets you all steamed up, give the experts at BCS a call at 801 561 1730 – we’ll steam right over to your rescue!

1 Fill the steam cleaning machine with water to the marked level on the machine’s holding tank. Plug in the machine to allow the water to heat up and become vapor.

2 Hold the steam cleaning wand in your hand. Pull the trigger or push the button to activate the steam. This is the exciting bit!

3 As the steam vapor pours out of the wand, run it across the window’s width. This loosens any ickiness on the window’s surface. Work down the window until you have fully cleaned and sanitized it with steam.

4 Using a soft, clean, dry, microfiber cloth, immediately wipe the window down, starting at the top and working down horizontally. If your cloth becomes too wet, use a new dry cloth. Continue wiping the window until it is dry.

5Repeat with the outside of the window.

And hey presto, you’ve steamed to the finish with sparkling clean windows! If you meet any issues, give the professionals at BCS a call on 801 561 1730.

How Do I Use A Squeegee On My Windows Without Streaks?

November 26, 2018

It’s not terribly high on most people’s list of favorite springtime jobs, but washing the windows needs to be done, and done well, for a whole host of reasons. Not least of which is so that you can see through them.

But that squeegee thingamajig looks so intimidating! What is the correct way to wield it without causing yourself or your windows grievous bodily harm? Here is our three-step guide to washing your own windows with the terrifying squeegee:

1 Use a strip applicator.

Cleaning picture windows requires large, dedicated tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up oodles of soapy water and dislodges dirt without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, we suggest using just a teeny squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water—the less suds, the better. The more suds you put on the glass, the more water and elbow grease you’ll have to use to remove them. And modern soap products are highly effective emulsifiers – you only need a teeny bit to go a long way.

2 Wipe clean with a squeegee

This is the fiddly bit! Professional window cleaners make it look easy and quick, but wielding a squeegee is a skill that comes with a lot of practice.

Starting at the top left of your window, pull the squeegee over the still-soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (do the opposite if you’re left-handed). Keep the squeegee in contact with the window through the entire motion, keeping your wrist loose and bendy. Don’t apply too much pressure on the squeegee or you’ll get strange lines on the glass – just keep enough pressure to keep it in contact with the pane. At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee’s blade clean with a lint-free cloth. Old linen napkins are perfect for this.

3 Remove any remaining drips

Remove any water or suds remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag. Repeat with the other side of the window. Don’t be tempted to use anything other than a damp chamois for this purpose – anything else WILL leave streaks and bits of fluff. It’s worth investing in a good chammy if you’re planning to clean your own windows.

If you’ve attempted to wield a squeegee and are frankly just ready to throw in the towel, give the experts at BCS a call at 801 561 1730. We’ll take all the ‘grrr’ out of window cleaning and have your panes sparkling in a jiffy. With a smile, we might add.

How do I clean my own windows?

November 14, 2018

It seems rather fun and industrious to wash one’s own windows. The first time. And then you realize what’s involved and promptly turn the task over to the professionals, a rare breed of human being who actually enjoy the detailed, involved and surprisingly skilled task of cleaning your panes.

But we understand – the first time you want to try it yourself. We did too. And were promptly hooked. If you feel the same, hurrah – welcome to the club! If you’re not immediately enthralled with the process, give the experts at BCS a call at 801 561 1730. We’ll come charging over with our fancy-looking tools to get your windows sparkling like new in a jiffy!

1 Use a strip applicator.

Cleaning picture windows requires large, dedicated tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up lots of lovely soapy water and dislodges dirt without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, we suggest using just a teeny squirt of dishwashing liquid and about a half-cup of plain white vinegar in a bucket of warm water—the less suds, the better. The more suds you put on the glass, the more water and elbow grease you’ll have to use to remove them. And modern soap products are highly effective emulsifiers – you only need a teeny bit to go a long way.

2 Wipe clean with a squeegee

This is the fiddly bit! Professional window cleaners make it look easy and quick, but wielding a squeegee is a skill that comes with a lot of practice.

Starting at the top left of your window, pull the squeegee over the still-soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (do the opposite if you’re left-handed). Keep the squeegee in contact with the window through the entire motion, keeping your wrist loose and bendy. Don’t apply too much pressure on the squeegee or you’ll get strange lines on the glass – just keep enough pressure to keep it in contact with the pane. At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee’s blade clean with a lint-free cloth. Old linen napkins are perfect for this.

Alternative Method:

If you’re washing the outside of your windows, you can get all big-gunsy about it and just use the hose to wash the suds off the glass. And then proceed to the last step. We would suggest doing one window at a time though if you’re going to do it this way, as the water will dry and leave nasty little mineral deposits and spots on the glass if you don’t get to it right away.

3 Remove any remaining drips

Remove any water or suds remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag. Repeat with the other side of the window. Don’t be tempted to use anything other than a damp chamois for this purpose – anything else WILL leave streaks and bits of fluff. It’s worth investing in a good chammy if you’re planning to clean your own windows regularly. It’s a jolly useful bit of kit.

If all this sounds a bit more than you wanted to do and you’re frankly ready to throw in the towel, give the experts at BCS a call at 801 561 1730. We’ll take all the ‘grrr’ out of window cleaning and have your panes sparkling in a jiffy. With a smile, we might add.

How do I remove bird poop from my windows?

November 14, 2018

The easiest way is to use a steam cleaning machine. See our article a couple of weeks ago about the best way to wield this fabulous piece of machinery.

If you don’t have access to a steam cleaning machine, the second best way would be to use a bucket of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing detergent and a squirt of white vinegar. Use a soft, clean, microfiber cloth soaked in the cleaning solution and hold it on the birdy poop for a few seconds to loosen it. Wipe any solids off with a clean side of the cloth. Wipe clean with a clean, damp chamois cloth. And hey presto, good as new!

If you have a buildup of naughty bird poopage, give the experts at BCS a call at 801 561 1730. We’ll have the bird innards off your glass in a New York minute!